Screw driver aligning tool



Aug. 28, 1951 w. J. LAMB scREw DRIVER ALIGNING TooL Filed April 2, 1945 IN VEN TOR. Ilm 161mb (Patented ug. 2.8,

mesne assignments, to ipany, Lancaster, Pa., a

Vania uelid, Ohio, assigner, by

Armstrong `Cork -(1cmcorporation-'of Pennsyl- V'ApplicationApril2, 1945,'seia1 No. 586,206 claims. (c1. iii-4st) Thisy invention relates to tools, andfparticul'l'a'rly to screwidrivers land'holding and guiding attachments therefor.

The primary object `of rthis invention fis `to provide a tool which facilitates the insertion of "a l:screw into a preperfratedmaterial, and which tool is rapid and convenientto use and which `"may be more easily fed or loaded.

'"Another'ob'ject of the invention is "to-'construct v:such tool so that the material proximate the adjustable"headwhich1 permits its use with material having diierent yperforation"spacings- A still 'further 'object 'is `to provide "a screw driver 'attachment'of the type stated that is'ad- -just'ableso that screws of different lengths may be easily accommodated and which adjustments permit vscrews to be'drivenuniformly'to a predetermined depth into the "material These and other objects of the inventionwill V'become apparentfr'om a readingof the'folloiving description and 'claims, together with the accompanying drawing, in vwhi'chlike `parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 is a 'viewof the invention showing it attached to a portable motorand engaged with J4material to `be secured or mounted;

Figure `2fis a vertical cross-sectional view of the screw driver and accessory, andparticularly showing the former in its normal fpositi'cn and having ascre'w retained therein; Y

Figure 3 is a vertical 'cross-sectional View 01 thescrew driver' and accessory and particularly screw driver 'in its `ei'rt'ended shdwing the position; l

Y"Figure 4 isa view similar to thatV of (Figure 3 but showing the devicea'djusted to accommodate a Vlongf'er screw;

Figure 5 lis an elevational view of'a portion of the screwdriver and accessory, andparticularly `'showing an alternate method of mounting the vspring used therewith; I

` Figure 6 visla top" 'or frontend View Vofthe device;

Figure '7 is "aA horizo'ta1 cross-sectional 'view of the device and fagpiece' ormteriaijused' `therewith, taken "substantially 'along the line and -in 0 "clean ard unmarred state.

"the direction of lthe arrows 'I-l of the Figure '-3;

v{Figure 8 is aneXploded view of the `device "showingcertain portions thereof partly in sec- `Ation; and

Figure 9 is avertical cross-sectional viewfof "the top-'portion of the device, and particularly showing parts thereof adjusted-to vprevent conxtact with the surface of the `material being (mounted.

Conduciveto 'aclearer understanding of this invention, it should be pointed out that this `tool is designed to facilitate the 'mounting of per- Aforate'd acoustic tileto ceilings or other suitable bases ors'urfa'ces `I. The tiles 'for which'this is 'intendedlhav'e regularly spaced and'aligned per- "ioationsforrecesses-such as are indicatedb'y the reference character t in the Figures l `and 7. `Mostof the `tiles vhave annished flatsurface 'which it is vdesiredto Apreserve in its yoriginal However, 'different brands vor 'makes "of I tiles 'manufactured by diffferent companiesvary in that the'perforationsi ror f recesses 'have different spacings.

Also, soine tiles `8 are perforated almost erf- 5Vtirely through "or are perforated to` such van "eX- tenttliat thefeicie'ncy of screws '6 in Ysuch perforations :is 4"practically lost. It then becomes li'iecessary"toldrivethe retaining screws through IAanuniderfor'ate'd part of'thetilef as in the inanner indicated by the reference character "Gwef the .4. In this eventQth'e scre'vvis longer l'and the thereoiis not recessed-inthetile'8. -Since acoustic rtiles Aarefnot standard as to fthi'ckness, structure jand design, 'and since the Lifcriofr art tools of ythis type Awere not universal in their u'se'r application, there is 'here pro- *vided `tvvo inajr and important Aineans 'fora-fdr ``justing the tool. lI'fhese 4vtwo adjusting "means A'make the tooladaptablefor use with practically au makes-'0f acoustical@ amenable it toi-11de Y'used under conditi'nsiand'ior purposes not'he're- 'tofore'providd for.

The A ;(irstl :major 'adj ustnent provides a quik member E Ei so that Athe blade `28 thereof VWill reach a` predeter-minedV -position when Vfully prolJ'ected. Thesecond majoradjustment provides a `quick randv easy method of lpositioning the vguide and easy method of setting tlescrew driving 'pins *36 to laccommodate 'different makesv of tile,

as set forth in the heretofore'mention'ed objects. ""A" third adjustment, int'found in p'rior art tools, "enables'thef-'guide'pins 36`to beir extended ``or're- :ftr'ac'tedasfdesired s'othat the outer visible surifae' of' the tile fisfno't touched' bythe tool head.

This eliminates all possibility of accidental scratching or marring of the tile surfaces.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in the Figure 1, a tool made in accordance with this invention mounted on a portable electric motor 5. The tool itself consists primarily of three members; namely, the body member, the screw driving member and the adjustable cap member. Each of these members are broadly indicated by the reference characters I0, 20 and 40 and each will be described in detail and in the order stated.

The body member I consists of a tubular shell which has a longitudinal channel Il extending therethrough. The outer surface of the body is knurled as is indicated by the character I1 to make the device more convenient to handle. The lower end of the shell body has an external thread I8 therein, as is clearly shown in the drawing. Its upper end has a shoulder portion I3 which is of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shell body. Above the shoulder portion I3 there is a tapered or somewhat conical head portion I2. The portion of the longitudinal channel passing through the head and shoulder portions I2 and I3 is constricted and forms thereat a narrowed channel or passage I5 in which the screw 6 is placed and in which the screw driver blade 28 moves. The portion of the shoulder inside the body adjacent to the passage I5 forms a seat I4 which engages the top end of the compression spring 3|.

The tapered or conical head portion I2 is concentric with the tubular body and its narrow top edge is relatively thin and is the very small portion that might actually contact the surface of the tile.

The shoulder portion I3 is also concentric with the tubular body and its top flat surface is provided with various sets of holes I6. One set of holes, as for example the set indicated by the reference characters I6a in the Figure 6, are close together; another set, as for example those indicated by the reference characters I6b and Id, are spaced farther apart. The holes of each set are equidistant from the head I2 and are diametrically in line therewith. In the Figure 6, the horizontally aligned holes I6c have the hereinafter described pair of guide pins 3E mounted therein.

The screw driving member 20 consists of a round drive shaft 22, the bottom end of which is provided or formed with a detent or recess 26 for suitable engagement with the collet or chuck on the portable motor 5. The upper end of the shaft 22 has a recessed collar 23 affixed thereto. This recess of the collar 22 receives the shank 2| of the removeable and replaceable screw driver. The bottom of the shank 2I is held in place in the recessed collar by the small set screw 24. The compression spring 3l fits loosely around the shank 2I of the screw driver and its lower coil rests on the collar 23 and its upper coil engages the seat I4 on the inside portion of the shoulder I3.

A second collar 25 is mounted on the drive shaft 22 below the hereinafter described cap member 46. The position of this collar 25 is variable and may be set by a simple set screw as shown, and provides an upward movement stop for the member 20.

A small piece of metal tubing 21 is mounted loosely around the shaft 22, just below the collar 23. The lower end of this tube rests on the inside of the flange 42 and its upper end is bei' 20.

engageable with the bottom of the collar 23. This tube 21 provides a simple but effective downward movement stop for the screw driving mem- The spring 3| tends to urge the cap 23 and the tube 21 together as shown in the Figure 2, and which position is the normal or non-operating position of the respective members.

The guide pin members 36 are simply short pieces of thin bar metal. The lower ends thereof have external screw threads 31 thereon which engage any of the heretofore mentioned sets of holes I6 in the shoulder I3. The outside diameters of the pins 36 are slightly smaller than the inside diameters of the perforations 9 in the tile, and the top ends thereof are substantially hat as shown. The pins 36 have relatively long threaded portions 31 and may be inserted in the holes I6 to depths determinable by the type of tile being used and by the particular manner of mounting the same.

The cap member 40 consists of a short piece of tubing having an internal screw thread 4I. The screw thread 4I engages the outside screw thread I8 of the body member I0. The bottom end of the member 46 has the inside flange 42 upon which rests the tube 21 and against which the stop collar 25 abuts when the screw driving member reaches its farthest position. It also has an axial or longitudinal opening 43 through and in which the shaft 22 passes and rotates.

The internally threaded ring 44 engages the screw threads I8 of the body member I0 and also tightly abuts and engages the open end of the cap member to lock it in a xed or predetermined position in the manner of a lock nut. Both parts of the cap member 40 may have knurled outer surfaces if desired, to make the adjustments more convenient.

For operation, the pair of pins 36 are inserted in a set of holes I6 which match the spacing of the perforations 9 of the tile to be secured or mounted. The two pins 36 are then screwed in or out of their respective holes I6 to either allow the top narrow brim of the head portion I2 to be in close contact with the tile, as shown in the Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, or to be spaced therefrom as shown in the Figure 9.

The cap member 4I) is then raised or lowered on the body member 20 to fix the maximum upward or forward position to which the blade 28 of the screw driver may extend. This position may be one as shown in the Figure 3 for recessing the screw head, or it may be as shown in the Figure 4 where the screw head is allowed to remain exposed on the surface of the tile.

Finally the stop collar 25 is positioned and xed on the shaft 22 depending on the length of the screw 6 that is to be inserted. Lowering the collar 25 on the shaft 22 permits a longer or deeper drive, while raising it and bringing it closer to the recessed collar 23 shortens the drive and permits less longitudinal movement of the screw driving member 20.

Among the many advantages that this device has over prior art devices designed for the kind of work stated, is that the normal position of the screw driver blade 28 is well below the brim of the head portion I2. Therefore there is always a receptacle for receiving the screws 6. The screw 6 will not drop out of the tool unless it is pointed downward. Either hand may be used for feeding screws into the receptacle and both hands of the operator may be used to hold and support the motor 5. The device is therefore less tiresome to use than are similar tools heretofore known or patented.

Furthermore, it should be pointed out that with this tool practically all of the material around where the screw 6 is being inserted is visible. This feature is important because it enables the operator to detect imperfect insertion or operation before damage may result to the tile. If, for example, the screw 6 should happen to be imperfect or if it should meet some unseen obstacle in the base 1, it is apt to go askew and continued driving therefore is very likely to tear or mutilate the acoustic tile which itself is only a soft, felted, frangible product.

Having thus disclosed the invention in its preferred form, it should be understood that the description and illustrations thereof are suggestive only. It should also be understood that since there may be other forms or modifications of the invention, no limitations thereof are intended, except those specifically imposed thereon by the breadth and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tool of the type described, comprisingr in combination, a tubular body member having a shoulder portion thereon, the said shoulder portion having sets of diametrically arranged holes therein, each set of holes being differently spaced, a pair of pins mountable on the shoulder portion and engageable with any of the said sets of holes, and a screw driving member slideably mounted in the body member and operable between the said pins.

2. A tool of the type described, comprising in combination, a tubular body member having head and shoulder portions integral therewith, the said head portion being tapered for minimum contact with the material to be secured, the said shoulder portion being in spaced relation With the said material and having sets of diametrically arranged holes therein, each set of holes being differently spaced, a pair of pins threadedly engageable with any of the said sets of holes and being capable of engaging perforations in the said material, and a screw driving member including a screw driver and a drive shaft therefor slideably mounted in the body member, the said screw driver being movable longitudinally through the head portion and rotatable between the pair of pins.

3. A tool of the type described, comprising in combination, a tubular body member having head and shoulder portions integral therewith, the said head portion being tapered yfor minimum contact with the material to be secured, the said shoulder portion being in spaced relation with the said material and having sets of diametrically arranged holes therein, each set of holes being differently spaced, a pair of pins threadedly engageable with any of the said sets of holes and being capable of engaging perforations in the said material, a screw driving member including a screw driver and a drive shaft therefor slideably mounted in the body member, the said screw driver being movable longitudinally through the head portion and rotatable between the pair of pins, and a spring means between and engaging the said members tending to force the screw driving member inwardly of the head portion.

4. A tool of the type described, comprising in combination, a tubular body member having head and shoulder portions integral therewith, the said head portion being tapered for minimum contact with the material to be secured, the said shoulder portion being in spaced relation with the said material and having sets of diametrically arranged holes therein, each set of holes being differently spaced, a pair of pins threadedly engageable with any of the said sets of holes and being capable of engaging perforations in the said material, a screw driving niember including a screw driver and a drive shaft therefor slideably mounted in the body member, the said screw driver being movable longitudinally through the head portion and rotatable between the pair of pins, the said drive shaft having' a collar thereon, and an adjustable cap member mounted on the body member encircling the said drive shaft and engageable with the collar thereon and being capable of fixing the normal position of the screw driving member.

5. A tool of the type described, comprising in combination, a tubular body member having head and shoulder portions integral therewith, the said head portion being tapered for minimum contact with the material to be secured, the said shoulder portion being in spaced relation with the said material and having sets of diametrically arranged holes therein, each set of holes being differently spaced, a pair of pins threadedly engageable with any of the said sets of holes and being capable of engaging perforations in the said material, a screw driving member including a screw driver and a drive shaft therefor slideably mounted in the body member, the said screw driver being movable longitudinally through the head portion and rotatable between the pair of pins, the said drive shaft having a collar thereon, a spring means between and engaging the said members tending to force the screw driving member inwardly of the head portion, and a spring means between and engaging the body and screw driving members tending to retain the latter in its normal position.

WILLIAM J. LAMB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 734,204 Voss July 21, 1903 1,301,165 Persons et al. lApr. 22, 1919 1,333,437 Monroe Mar. 9, 1920 1,447,626 Partlow Mar. 6, 1923 1,591,400 Orawiec July 6, 1926 1,698,521 Wood Jan. 8, 1929 1,882,462 Weber Oct. 11, 1932 1,909,366 Koza May 16, 1933 1,930,859 Munro Oct. 17, 1933 2,160,794 Price May 30, 1939 2,235,235 Price Mar. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 686,370 France Apr. 14, 1930 

